The families, originally from Romania and based in Dublin, have been accused of targeting tourists in the capital.

Although they’re suspected of organising begging rings, they’re also thought to have been stealing iPhones from revellers and distracting people at ATM machines before stealing their cash and stealing from handbags.

They operate by collecting cash in the city centre before cash is then delivered to “collectors” and returned to the main organisers.

The teams of beggars are then collected and driven to run down properties before returning the following day.